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Reflectivity and microwave absorption in crystals with alternating intrinsic Josephson junctions
Ch Helm1, L N Bulaevskii, E M Chudnovsky
1Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 and Institut für Theoretische Physik, ETH Hönggerberg, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland.
Physical Review Letters
|July 30, 2002
Summary
This study analyzes layered superconductors, revealing insights into their electronic properties. Researchers determined key parameters like electronic compressibility and charge coupling in SmLa1-xSr xCuO (4-delta) superconductors.
Area of Science:
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Materials Science
- Superconductivity
Background:
- Layered superconductors exhibit complex electronic behaviors due to intrinsic Josephson junctions.
- Understanding charge coupling and electronic compressibility is crucial for characterizing these materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compute frequency and magnetic field dependencies of reflectivity in layered superconductors.
- To extract electronic compressibility (alpha) and charge coupling parameters for SmLa1-xSr xCuO (4-delta).
Main Methods:
- Calculated reflectivity R(omega) for layered superconductors with alternating intrinsic Josephson junctions.
- Analyzed optical measurements of the loss function L(omega) at zero and varying magnetic fields.
- Determined the parameter alpha from fits of L(omega) and its magnetic field dependence.
Main Results:
- Frequency and magnetic field dependencies of reflectivity were computed.
- The electronic compressibility parameter alpha was extracted for SmLa1-xSr xCuO (4-delta).
- Experimental results align with a free electron model for alpha.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully characterized key electronic parameters in layered superconductors.
- Optical measurements provide a reliable method for determining alpha and charge coupling.
- Findings support theoretical models for electronic compressibility in these materials.